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From natural to bold, there is a makeup style out there for everyone.
Whether you’re going for a shimmery makeup style to add a bit of sparkle to your overall look or a minimal makeup technique if you’re aiming for something more low-key, any makeup style that you desire can be recreated with practice!
Experimenting with the different types of makeup looks will allow you to find the perfect style for your face shape, as well as for the occasion.
With the right combination of products and techniques, you can create stunning makeup looks that enhance your natural beauty and make you feel extra confident!
We’re sharing with you 14 types of makeup styles that you can try, as well as tips on how you can recreate them.
We’re totally ready to see you rock any makeup look!
Table of Contents
- 1 Types of Makeup Techniques
- 2 Types of Makeup Looks
- 3 Permanent Makeup
- 4 Frequently Asked Questions
- 5 Don’t Be Afraid to Experiment!
- 6 Authors
Types of Makeup Techniques
The following are makeup styles that you can try using different application techniques. If that sounds intimidating, don’t worry! We made sure you know what to do.
HD Makeup
This face makeup type was born with the advent of HD TV screens, hence the name HD or high-definition makeup.
This type of makeup uses products that contain pigments with light-diffusing coverage to blur flaws when light reflects on them. This is to ensure that your look is TV-ready or telegenic.
Despite the full coverage, this style should still mimic natural skin and shouldn’t look like makeup. Thick layers of makeup won’t look very appealing onscreen.
For a camera-ready look, it’s important to coat the skin with medium to light waterproof foundation coverage with a natural, shine-free finish.
You may want to try the MAKE UP FOR EVER Ultra HD Foundation, one of the holy grail products for HD makeup.
For concealer and contour products, best to apply those with creamy formulation and matte or semi-matte finish.
The finished product? A skin that looks flawless in camera and in person, as if you’re wearing an Instagram filter in real life.
Matte Makeup
Among different makeup styles, the matte makeup look is one of the easiest to create. This is ideal for those with oily skin or people residing in places with humid weather.
All you need to do is subtract all the products with glossy formulations from your kit. In other words, from primer and foundation to blush and lipstick — all makeup products should be matte and long-lasting.
Dewy Glow Makeup
Going for the makeup style that appears fresh, and hydrated with bright flushed cheeks that don’t look greasy?
The name for that is the dewy glow makeup look.
This lies in between the no-makeup makeup look and the full-face makeup look. On social media platforms, zoomers also refer to this as the “clean girl look” or the “clean girl aesthetic.”
Before applying your makeup, make sure to load up on some moisturizer to leave a healthy glow on your skin.
Next, apply your lightweight and illuminating foundation such as the IT COSMETICS CC + Nude Glow Lightweight Foundation, and cover any imperfection with a cream-based concealer.
To get that flushed look, apply a pop of shimmery blush on the apples of your cheeks and blend well. Also, don’t forget to apply lip gloss for a juicy-lip finish.
Airbrush Makeup
This makeup style name refers to a method that uses an airbrush applicator instead of regular brushes and sponges to apply an even, lightweight coverage with a soft and natural finish.
It is a popular makeup technique among professionals because it provides flawless, high-definition results. The foundations used in airbrush makeup come in a variety of shades, textures, and finishes so they suit those with unique skin types and tones.
Airbrush makeup gives the option of sheer or heavy coverage with longer-lasting wearability, allowing it to stay on for up to 16 hours.
This technique is ideal for occasions where your appearance has to remain flawless for a long time, such as weddings and photo shoots.
Mineral Makeup
Are you looking for a makeup style that’s excellent for sensitive skin? You totally should try the mineral makeup technique!
This style uses mineral-based products that are not only lighter and less likely to clog pores but also safe from potential irritants, thanks to organic ingredients such as iron and zinc oxide that protect your skin from harmful UV radiation.
Mineral makeup has a range of coverage alternatives, and a great product for that is the Glo Skin Beauty Luminous Mineral Foundation.
This style makes it the perfect choice for anyone looking for a healthy, glowing complexion without having to compromise on quality or coverage.
However, be aware that makeup products with zinc oxide and similar minerals tend to cause flashback.
Types of Makeup Looks
Now that you’ve learned different makeup techniques, here are the types of makeup looks that are quite trendy today!
No-Makeup Makeup Look
Aiming for the bare minimum while enhancing your facial features in the most minimal way possible? The name of that daytime makeup style is the no-makeup makeup look. TikTok calls it the “clean girl aesthetic” today.
To achieve this, start by creating a light base using a liquid foundation and add a bit of color to your cheeks and lips using a multi-purpose cream blush. Go for a natural glowy finish with liquid and cream products that are easy to use and blend seamlessly.
Then swipe a little cream bronzer as your eyeshadow for a subtle pigment, and boost your glow by applying a highlighter or cream illuminator onto your face’s high points.
Brush up and shape your brows using your preferred brow gel.
For people who just want to look like themselves but a little bit polished, this is surely the makeup style for them.
Monochromatic Makeup
The more popular name for a one-toned look is monochromatic makeup. This involves using the same color palette for multiple areas such as the cheeks, eyes, and lips.
This style has gained so much popularity because it can create a charming and balanced look while requiring little effort.
These are our favorite monochromatic looks that you can easily do:
- Soft pink monochrome — This features soft shades of pinks on the cheeks, eyes, and lips that make you look cute and flirty.
- Nude monochrome — Inspired by the 90s, this look showcases subtle shades of brown on the eyes, lips, and contours of your cheeks.
- Sunset coral monochrome — Go for this monochromatic look if you’re in a vibrant mood and swipe a pop of coral hue on your cheeks and eyes. Finish the look by applying orange-toned creamy lipstick.
Evening Makeup
A makeup style that’s meant for the weekend night out? Wear your evening makeup and get ready to party all night long!
This look shifts from the light, daytime look into the bolder, darker makeup hues. The hallmarks of evening makeup include sparkly and dramatic eyeshadow with a winged eyeliner; contoured cheekbones, jaws, and nose; mascara-coated lashes; and dark lips.
Prepare to slay with your bold-looking evening makeup!
Bridal Makeup
Bridal makeup is a specific look that makes the bride stand out during her D-Day.
This style emphasizes the high points and most beautiful features of the bride. The bride’s eyes are the focal points during the wedding, so eye makeup is the most important routine of bridal makeup.
Bridal makeup differs among cultures. Among Westerners, subtle but beautiful eye makeup using colors that match or complement the dress enhances the bride’s overall look.
Applying mascara perfectly, making sure the eyelashes are voluminous, and applying just a hint of a light color on your eyelids can make the bride stand out in wedding photographs without trying too hard.
Apart from eye makeup, brides also need flawless foundation using airbrush makeup or HD makeup, as well as rosy cheeks and soft pink or peach lips.
Old Hollywood Makeup
Want to travel back in time with style? Look your best with the help of old Hollywood makeup glam, distinguished by its iconic red lip.
The name of this makeup style originated from the era of glitz and glamor, specifically from 1920 to 1960.
To recall, the icons of these decades are Marilyn Monroe, Audrey Hepburn, Elizabeth Taylor, etc.. The styles of these stars are the inspiration behind the old Hollywood makeup look.
Aside from bold red lips, the signature look for this style includes porcelain skin and a perfect cat-eye or winged eyeliner, accompanied by pin-curl perms.
Alternative Makeup
Are you getting bored with your usual look and want to try a makeup look that challenges society’s beauty standards? Donning an alternative makeup look is always a fun look to create!
This look is characterized by bold colors like black, deep reds and purples, blues, grays, and silver. Exuding a dark and mysterious vibe, this makeup style would surely turn heads!
Alternative makeup often features heavy eyeliner, vivid lip shades, lots of mascara coatings, and big falsies.
Depending on your preference, you may add a touch of goth using smoky eyeshadows or create a full-on glam goth look with glittery hints and bold lip shades.
Faux Freckles Makeup
This type of makeup style is all over social media! Hiding freckles through thick coverage of makeup is totally last season. We’re now in the era of embracing our flaws. Hence, the faux freckles makeup trend!
Adding faux freckles to your makeup using eyeliner, brow pencils, or a freckle pen will create a naturally beautiful, sunkissed look.
Quick Tip
Don’t forget to set your faux freckles into place with setting powder.
Pastel Makeup
As trends from the early 2000s resurface, so do pastels in makeup looks!
If you’re the adventurous type, swipe pastel eyeshadow colors on your eyes and a little bit on your lower lash line to achieve this makeup style. To complete this makeup look, apply a nude or pink gloss on your lips.
This look is totally ideal for those who want to make a charming nostalgic statement. We’re excited for you to create this!
Permanent Makeup
Ready to take your makeup look to an advanced level? Go for permanent makeup, a unique cosmetic procedure that lets you flaunt a “woke up like this” look every day.
How is this possible? It semi-permanently or permanently implants pigment into the outermost layer of the skin or the epidermis.
This is not meant to be applied to your face. However, it can enhance prominent features like your eyebrows through microblading, lips through lip blushing, and eyelids through eyeliner tattoo.
Quick Tip
Get permanent makeup procedures done only at well-established clinics with experienced professionals to ensure safety and quality.
Frequently Asked Questions
What Makeup Styles Are Trending?
Makeup trends are constantly changing, which keeps things exciting! Currently, a natural and glowy look is in style.
This includes light coverage foundations, gently contoured cheeks, and a soft shimmery highlight on the eyes and cheekbones.
Meanwhile, oval lining your lips are also becoming a crowd favorite. An oval is drawn from above the cupid’s bow down to your lower lip using a lip liner. This is then blended with a creamy lipstick or a lip gloss.
For eyes, inverted eyeliners, fox eyes, and siren eyes are big this season.
Inverted eyeliners are done by focusing your eyeliner on the lower lid (instead of the upper lid) and smoking it out.
Fox eyes use eyeliner for the inner and outer corners of your eyes and eyeshadow and concealer to create a lift on the outer corner.
On the other hand, siren eyes involve applying eyeliner to the inner and outer corners and topping the look off with mascara.
Both fox eyes and siren eyes elongate your eyes for a fiercer, sultrier look.
Finally, sunburn blush is a new trend for the cheeks. You simply include the bridge of your nose when you add your blush and blend it toward your cheeks and up your temples.
Remember that makeup should always be fun. Experimenting with the different makeup types can help you find what suits you best!
What Kind of Makeup Looks Best on Camera?
When it comes to makeup that looks best on camera, it’s important to focus on what is visible and flattering both in person and in pictures.
Start by choosing a good foundation that matches your skin tone and provides a smooth base for the rest of the makeup.
To add dimension and definition to your face, contour with bronzer and add highlighter, and swipe your blush to add color to your facial look. Also, mascara, eyeliner, and a neutral eyeshadow palette can be used to accentuate your eyes.
Finally, finish off by defining the eyebrows with an eyebrow pencil or gel for well-shaped and thicker-looking brows using a brow gel.
These steps should give you an overall natural look that cameras will capture beautifully!
What Kind of Makeup Looks Good With Glasses On?
When it comes to wearing makeup with glasses, less is usually more.
A subtle smoky eye using neutral tones or matte shades will really bring out your eyes, without overpowering them.
You could also opt for a lighter wash of color over the eyelids, paired with eyeliner, mascara, and filled-in brows for definition.
When it comes to highlighting your cheeks, try opting for coral or pink blush, which looks great with light frames, while bronze or peach blushes work best on darker frames.
With a few quick tricks, you can definitely slay your makeup look even with your eyeglasses on!
Don’t Be Afraid to Experiment!
Makeup techniques have evolved and improved over time, allowing us to experiment with different makeup looks and customize our looks according to our own preferences.
With plenty of products and tools available out there, it’s possible to create any kind of makeup look you desire today!
Don’t be afraid to try and experiment with our featured makeup styles because these can help boost your confidence and allow you to express your unique sense of style.
We can’t wait to see you slay your chosen makeup style!
Want to Upgrade Your Makeup Style?
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Janille Gultiano Jan, a distinguished freelance makeup artist, also boasts a BA in Mass Communication, laying the foundation for her diverse talents. For over four years, she's carved a niche as a captivating content writer, with her articles resonating in various spheres. Beyond writing, her expertise extends to crafting robust Public Relations and Corporate Communications strategies. Each endeavor reflects Jan's unique blend of creativity and precision View all posts Noelia Genov Noelia boasts eight years as a professional makeup artist and 6 years mastering skincare. She is a licensed esthetician and makeup artist in New York and her expertise spans from transformative makeup looks to in-depth skincare solutions. View all posts